Government in exile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.
Governments in exile frequently occur during wartime occupation. For example, during the German expansion of the Second World War, numerous European governments and monarchs were forced to seek refuge in the United Kingdom rather than face certain destruction at the hands of the Nazis.
[edit] Current governments in exile
Governments in exile often have little or no recognition from other powers. Governments in exile currently include:
[edit] Governments in exile of currently existing states created by deposed governments
The below list includes governments in exile that have been created by deposed governments/rulers who claim to still be the legitimate authority of a territory they once controlled (or were elected as legitimate government of).
[edit] Governments in exile of currently existing states created by political organizations
The below list consists of governments that have been created in exile by political organisations and opposition parties that aspire to become a territory’s actual governing authority, and have been created as alternatives to the government currently in control of the territory.
| Name | Year of claimed exile | Government presently controlling claimed territory | Note | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea |
2003 | Republic of Equatorial Guinea | The Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea proclaimed Severo Moto "President of Equatorial Guinea" in Madrid, Spain. | [3] |
 Government of Free Vietnam |
1975 | Socialist Republic of Vietnam | Based in Garden Grove, California and Missouri City, Texas, USA. Since 1995, has claimed to be a continuation of the Republic of Vietnam | [4] |
[edit] Government in exile of a de jure autonomous entity now functioning as an independent state
The case below refers to an entity which currently functions as an independent state, but is claimed by the government in exile to de jure form part of a different political entity.
| Name | Exile since | Country controlling its claimed territory | Information | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia |
1993 |  Republic of Abkhazia |
A Georgian provincial government whose territory is currently under the control of Abkhaz separatists. It is led by Malkhaz Akishbaia. | |
 Provisional Administration of South Ossetia |
2008 | Republic of South Ossetia |
A Georgian provincial administration whose territory is currently under the control of South Ossetian separatists. It is led by Dmitry Sanakoyev. |
[edit] Governments in exile of territories occupied by a different state
The below list includes governments in exile of territories which are not fully independent today, but have been subsumed by a different political entity.
| Name | Exile since | Country controlling its claimed territory | Information | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Republic of Ambazonia |
2004 |  Republic of Cameroon |
Former British Mandate territory of Southern Cameroons. Declared independence on Dec 31 1999 | |
 Biafran Government in Exile |
2007 |  Federal Republic of Nigeria |
Seeking to reestablish the Republic of Biafra. Declared independence on August 28, 2007. It is based in Washington, DC | [5] |
 Republic of Cabinda |
1975 |  Republic of Angola |
Based in Kinshasa, the Cabinda was invaded by Angola in the year 1975. Cabinda had been a Portuguese protectorate, while Angola had been a colony. | |
 Chechen Republic of Ichkeria |
2000 |  Russian Federation |
The government is largely based in Western Europe, Arab nations, and the United States. Some members are fighting in the rebel movement against the Russian Army | |
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
1976 |  Kingdom of Morocco |
Is headquartered in the Tindouf region in Algeria but controlling what it calls the "Free Zone" in the eastern part of Western Sahara | |
 Republic of Serbian Krajina |
2005 |  Republic of Croatia |
Reconstituted on 26 February 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia by the remains of the Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina after Croatian forces pushed out the internationally unrecognized entity in 1995 during Operation Storm at the end of the Croatian War of Independence | |
 Republik Maluku Selatan |
1950 |  Republic of Indonesia |
The Republik Maluku Selatan, from the South Moluccas, Indonesia, are exiled in the Netherlands since 1950 | |
 Central Tibetan Administration |
1959 |  People's Republic of China |
The Central Tibetan Administration of the Dalai Lama, a government in exile (based in Dharamsala, India), which claims to represent the people of Tibet | |
 Western Kurdistan Government in Exile |
2004 |  Syrian Arab Republic |
Aims to create a Kurdish state in Syria, currently based in London, UK | [6] |
 Tamil Eelam |
2009 |  Sri Lanka |
Selvarasah Padmanabah ,aka KP claims to represent the tamil people and is unpopular among most |
[edit] Actions of governments in exile
International law recognizes that governments in exile may undertake many types of actions in the conduct of their daily affairs. These actions include:
- becoming a party to a bilateral or international treaty
- amending or revising its own constitution
- maintaining military forces
- retaining (or "newly obtaining") diplomatic recognition by sovereign states
- issuing identity cards
- allowing the formation of new political parties
- instituting democratic reforms
- holding elections
- allowing for direct (or more broadly-based) elections of its government officers, etc.
However, none of these actions can serve to legitimatize a government in exile to become the internationally recognized legal government of its current locality. By definition, a government in exile is spoken of in terms of its native country, hence it must return to its native country and regain power there in order to obtain legitimacy as the legal government of that geographic area.
[edit] Past governments in exile
| Name | Exiled/ Created(*) since |
Defunct/ Reestablished(*)/ Integrated(°) since |
Country controlling its claimed territory | Information | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dutch Republic |
1795 | 1814° |  Batavian Republic |
between 1795 and 1814 the Government of the Dutch Republic in Exile lived in London following a French Invasion led by William V, Prince of Orange. Ultimately they returned to create the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815. | |
 United Mexican States |
1864 | 1867* |  Second Mexican Empire |
President Benito Juarez's Government-in-Exile during the Empire of Maximilian in Mexico, from 1864 to 1867. Unique in that the Juarez Cabinet remained in Mexico, in the northern capital of Chihuahua. | |
 Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea |
1919* | 1948° |  Empire of Greater Japan |
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, based in Shanghai, China and later in Chongqing. It was created in 1919 for when Korea gained independence from the Empire of Japan. After Japan’s defeat in World War II President Syngman Rhee became the first president of the First Republic of South Korea | |
 Revolutionary Government of Angola |
1962* | 1992° | Republic of Angola |
The Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile, founded in 1962 and based in Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa. The military branch known as the National Liberation Front of Angola was recognized as a political party in 1992 and holds three seats in Angola’s parliament. | |
 Estonian Government in Exile |
1953* | 1992° |  USSR |
The Estonian Government in Exile was formally declared governmental authority of the Republic of Estonia in exile, existing from 1953 until the reestablishment of Estonian sovereignty over Estonian territory in 1992. It traced its legitimacy through constitutional succession to the last Estonian government in power prior to the Soviet invasion in 1940. | [7] |
 Second Spanish Republic |
1939 | 1977 |  Spanish State |
Spanish Republican government in Exile after Francisco Franco's coup d'état. Based in Mexico City from 1939 to 1946 when it was moved to Paris where it lasted until Franco's death. | |
.svg){kind=small} Democratic Republic of Georgia |
1921 | 1934 |  Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic |
Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Georgia of 1921 and based in Leuville-sur-Orge, France. | |
 Ukrainian People's Republic |
1920 | 1921 |  Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
|
Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Ukraine in 1920. | |
 Aceh Sumatra National Liberation Front |
1976* | 2005 | Republic of Indonesia |
The Free Aceh Movement, a government in exile for the Aceh special territory of Indonesia, is headquartered in Sweden, which had surrendered its separatist intentions and dissolved its armed wing following the 2005 peace agreement with the Indonesian Government. |
[edit] World War II and Cold war
Many countries established a government in exile after loss of sovereignty in connection with World War II:
- Belgium (invaded 10 May 1940)
- Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile (established in 1940 by Beneš and recognised by the British and other United Nations governments)
- Estonian Government in Exile (1953-1992), in Sweden after incorporation of Estonia into the USSR; however had not received recognition by any state.
- Free France (after 1940)
- Greece (invaded 28 October 1940)
- Luxembourg (invaded 10 May 1940)
- Lithuania (invaded 1940, was recognized as de jure government by the United States until it regained independence)[8]
- Netherlands (invaded 10 May 1940, see Dutch government in exile)
- Norway (invaded 9 April 1940)
- Poland (invaded 1 September 1939) After WWII, the Polish government-in-exile remained in exile as a result of the Soviet occupation. Ireland, Spain and the Vatican were the last nations that ceased to recognize the government by 1979. The government dissolved itself after formally recognising the newly elected Polish president Lech Walesa and Poland's government in 1990.
- Yugoslavia (invaded 6 April 1941)
- Philippine Commonwealth (invaded 9 December 1941)
The Provisional Government of Free India (1942-1945) was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the war.
Other exiled leaders in Britain included King Zog of Albania and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
Notable examples of occupied countries which retained partial sovereignty through their overseas territories included Belgium, Vichy France and Free France.
[edit] The Danish exception
The Occupation of Denmark (9 April 1940) was administered by the German Foreign Office, contrary to other occupied lands that were under military administration. Denmark did not establish a government in exile, although there was an Association of Free Danes established in London. King Christian X and his government remained in Denmark, and functioned comparatively independently for the first three years of German occupation. Meanwhile, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands were occupied by the Allies, and effectively separated from the Danish crown. (See British occupation of the Faroe Islands, Iceland during World War II, and History of Greenland during World War II)
[edit] See also
- Continuity of government
- Provisional government
- Micronation
- List of unrecognized countries
- List of historical unrecognized countries
- List of active autonomist and secessionist movements
- List of historical autonomist and secessionist movements
- List of territorial disputes
- Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
- United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
[edit] References
- ^ Official website of the Belarusian National Republic
- ^ NW World News Prayer Network: # 2577
- ^ BBC "Timeline: Equatorial Guinea" # 2577
- ^ Website of the Government of Free Vietnam
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Talmon, Stefan (1998). Recognition of governments in international law. Oxford University Press. p. 299. ISBN 0198265735. http://books.google.com/books?id=scc8EboiJX8C&pg=PA299&dq=%22Estonian+Government+in+Exile%22&ei=UYMwSuPgOo-aMu6TiJUP.
- ^ [3]
